A FLYING vicar is heading out on a one-man tour on his classic motorbike in a bid to reach out to a community.

The Rev Mike Proctor of St Cuthbert’s, on Stokesley Road, Marton, Middlesbrough, will be heading to locations across Coulby Newham over a six-week spell to let people know that the church is there for them.

Mr Proctor believes many people in the Coulby community are unaware that St Cuthbert’s is the Anglican church for both their area and Marton and has come up with a novel idea to tell them.

The Rev will be revving up his classic 1963 Triumph Tiger for the informal weekly stop-and-chats, which he is calling Mike On A Bike.

He said: “St Cuthbert’s in Marton is the parish church for the people of Coulby Newham and Marton.

“We want to make people in Coulby Newham aware of the fact we are their church, if they so wish.

“We are not wanting to ask people to leave churches they may already be attending. We are saying if you want the help or services of the church we are here for you.

“The bike is a conversation point and a prop. Wherever I park the bike, inevitably there’s a guy stood looking at it and the conversation will go ‘I used to have one of those’.

“I have been riding it for three years now. It’s a great way of getting around the parish.

“Even if you are not into motorbikes, people seem to like looking at it.”

The vicar is happy to talk about anything that the people of Coulby wish to chat about.

His first trip out will take him to the Parkway Centre on Thursday, June 16 between 11am and 1pm. Subsequent locations have yet to be confirmed but will all take place on Thursdays, three in June and three in July, between the same times.